Surviving in the General's Mansion - Chapter 68

Huyan Lie revealed nothing on his face, but inwardly, he wanted to tear Cang Chuli limb from limb!

The Khagan had given him this scimitar after his first victory.

Its blade was forged from fine steel and incomparably sharp. The hilt and scabbard were made entirely of gold and set with countless gemstones.

Not only was it priceless, but it symbolized his rank and status.

How dare Cang Chuli demand this scimitar?

“I have always been interested in weapons,” Cang Chuli said casually. “I’ll take that scimitar.”

Huyan Lie had been cornered in front of everyone. He ground his back teeth so hard they nearly cracked, unwilling to hand it over.

“Surely the First Prince isn’t reluctant to part with it?” Xiao Yaqing asked in feigned surprise.

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Pasang demanded angrily.

She had been listening for some time and recognized this woman as the one who had protested on behalf of the maid during the contest.

“My apologies. This humble girl unfairly suspected the First Prince of acting in bad faith!

“Of course. I have heard that the people of Tujue are exceptionally forthright. How could they possibly refuse to honor a wager?

“Surely the mighty First Prince would not go back on his word in front of all these people.”

“You! Who are you?” Pasang demanded in exasperation.

“This humble girl’s name is too insignificant to mention.”

Xiao Yaqing smiled with pursed lips.

“I have long heard that the Khagan’s Golden Scimitar can slice through iron as though it were mud.

“Mingxu, might you let us broaden our horizons later?”

She skipped over Huyan Lie entirely, as though the Golden Scimitar already belonged to Cang Chuli.

“Naturally,” Cang Chuli replied.

Xia Heng secretly glanced at Xiao Yaqing.

Her sister was magnificent!

“This woman contributed greatly to your victory,” Huyan Lie said without showing emotion. “Surely the general should at least ask what reward she wants?”

As he spoke, he smoothly redirected the pressure toward Cang Chuli.

“What would you like, young lady? One hundred gold taels? A thousand mu of fertile fields (about 165 acres)? Or perhaps… your freedom?”

Seeing that she could not escape his attention, Xia Heng muttered, “I’m not a straw boat. Why does he keep chasing after me…?”

Cang Chuli glanced at her as well, the corner of his mouth curving suspiciously.

*Borrowing Arrows with Straw Boats*—or “borrowing” a shameless pest?

Only she could think of that.

“Hmm?” Huyan Lie had not heard clearly.

“I said that your Golden Scimitar looks excellent!”

“It is rare to see something so practical and so valuable at the same time,” Xia Heng said sincerely.

What a joke. Did he think she could not see how much it pained him?

And he wanted to overwhelm her with money?

Did she look short of money now?

She had an entire room full of dowry!

As for her indenture, if she dared ask for it today, the two old men of the Xia family would sell her again the moment she left the General’s Mansion.

Huyan Lie choked again but still refused to give up.

“Something else—”

“Everything else is too precious. This maid is frightened!”

After speaking, Xia Heng ducked behind Cang Chuli again.

“I hope you’ll forgive her, First Prince. My maid is simply too timid,” Cang Chuli said at precisely the right moment.

At those words, Xiao Yaqing’s gaze drifted left. Mo Qing looked right. Chuqing stared at her toes.

With nowhere else to look, Mo Bai raised his face and bit his lip.

Huyan Lie laughed from sheer fury.

She was timid?

She had just run around the training ground carrying a target like a wild dog freed from its leash!

Even after he snatched her onto the back of his horse with his whip, she had dared pinch the flesh at his waist.

That was timid?

Did anyone bolder than her exist?

He tore the Golden Scimitar from his waist and threw it to Cang Chuli.

Without another word, Huyan Lie turned and returned to his pavilion.

Pasang saw Yanu trembling behind them and kicked her.

“Useless thing! You cannot even run. What use are you?”

The kick struck Yanu’s leg, and she immediately dropped to her knees.

“Mercy, Princess! Mercy!”

“Hmph!”

Pasang glared at the others, then stormed after Huyan Lie.

Yanu scrambled up and hurried to follow.

Xia Heng was about to raise her head now that they had left when a glittering golden object flew toward her.

She hurriedly caught it with both hands.

What?

Was this not the Golden Scimitar?

Xia Heng stood holding it with both hands, utterly confused.

“Your dagger is still with me,” Cang Chuli said. “I’ll trade you this for it.”

He was truly giving it to her?

Xia Heng stared delightedly at the scimitar in her hands.

With this much gold, it had to be worth a fortune!

Cang Chuli took two steps forward, then stopped and looked back.

“You did well today. But there is no need to do such a thing again.”

Xia Heng looked up.

Mo Qing and Mo Bai stood beside Cang Chuli, both giving her a thumbs-up.

“Hehe!”

Hugging the scimitar, Xia Heng returned a foolish grin.

* * *

The day’s grand contest was now over.

Including Cang Chuli’s additional match, there had been four events. Huaxia won three of them—an overwhelming victory.

After speaking briefly with Dongfang Wei, Huyan Lie left early with Pasang.

The remaining families had been stirred by the competitions. Many young men changed clothes and entered the field to test themselves.

Cang Chuli prepared to return to the General’s Mansion.

Xia Heng said goodbye to Xiao Yaqing and promised to wash the cloak before returning it.

She had expected to do so within a day or two.

Instead, the matter dragged on for half a month.

“That’s what you get for showing off! Carrying a target through the rain and running all over the field? Look at you! You were so impressive you forgot who you were!”

Zhao Die finished feeding Xia Heng the last spoonful of ginger-and-brown-sugar water, every word barbed.

Xia Heng clutched her abdomen.

“Ow, ow. My stomach hurts.”

“Of course it hurts. Why didn’t you jump into the moat on the way home and take a bath while you were at it? At least you’d be clean.”

Xia Heng pouted and grabbed Zhao Siyan’s sleeve.

“She’s too fierce. Far too fierce. I cannot endure it!”

Zhao Die’s delicate brows shot upright in anger.

Zhao Siyan put Xia Heng’s hand back beneath the blanket, tucked her in, and touched her forehead.

“Behave yourself. You already have a fever! A woman’s monthly courses are no small matter. How could you be so careless?”

Xia Heng lifted her head in protest.

“How was I careless? That Tujue prince was clearly going too far! If I let him succeed, I would have died of anger!”

Zhao Die pushed her head back down with one finger.

“You’re small, but your temper certainly isn’t! He is a prince. What are you?”

“That doesn’t mean we should let him bully us. If I knew martial arts, I’d have given him internal injuries at the very least…” Xia Heng muttered.

At the mention of martial arts, Zhao Die looked at Qiulin standing nearby, then at the arm hanging in a sling.

Her anger found a new target.

“You taught her this! All she does is show off!”

Qiulin was stunned by the blame that had landed on her out of nowhere.

She pointed at herself with her uninjured right hand.

“Me?”

“Who else? You’re a young woman, yet all you think about is waving blades and spears!

“At least Chuqing knows her limits and won’t injure herself. Now look at the two of you!”

Xia Heng silently pulled the blanket over her head, no longer daring to argue.

Zhao Siyan laid a padded coat over the blanket, then tugged it down from Xia Heng’s head to expose her face.

“It has been raining for two days. The clothes you wore today are damp and need to dry before you can wear them again.

“Fortunately, your new padded coat was nearly finished. I collected this one early for you. Wear it for the next couple of days.”

Xia Heng nodded.

“Thank you, Siyan! But isn’t it too warm? It’s so thick!”

The padded coat had been intended for distribution before the New Year. Naturally, it was thick enough for deep winter.

“Too warm? You have a fever. More layers will help you sweat!

“And don’t touch cold water for the next two days. When the weather clears tomorrow, I’ll wash and hang your skirt,” Zhao Die said sharply.

Xia Heng’s face reddened.

How could she let Zhao Die do that? There was something else she needed to wash too!

“N-no need… I can wash it in a couple of days. Ah… achoo!”

She sneezed before finishing.

“Will the stain still wash out in a couple of days? Stop worrying about it and rest! Wude will bring your dinner later.”

Zhao Die called Zhao Siyan, and the sisters left together.

Qiulin followed for two steps, then turned back.

“You’re unwell today, so I’ll carry this undeserved blame for now.

“When you recover, explain it to her. I never taught you any of that!”

Using her right hand, she adjusted the charcoal in the brazier with a pair of tongs.

Only then did she leave and close the door behind her.